Mauro Vallati is professor in the Department of Computer Science at the University of Huddersfield, where he leads the AI4UTMC research team. An ACM senior member and distinguished speaker, Vallati specialises in applying artificial intelligence to real-world challenges, including healthcare and train dispatching. Since 2016, he has secured multiple research grants focused on urban traffic control, producing influential publications and patents internationally. In 2021, Vallati was awarded a UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship to develop AI systems that autonomously detect traffic congestion and optimise urban traffic signal control, advancing smarter, more efficient cities.